Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Bai Tao wants to live, she really wants to live.

She was cautious the whole way, afraid that someone would see her.

But the eldest mistress was in charge of managing the household affairs, and even though it was getting late, people were still coming and going from Qiushuangzhai. Bai Tao waited for a while, knowing that if she didn't go back soon, she wouldn't be able to explain it to her aunt.

Upon seeing Caixia, Baitao hurriedly went over to pull her along, saying, "Sister Caixia, come with me."

Caixia was puzzled. "If you have something to say, just say it. Don't beat around the bush."

"Please, sister, help me pass on a message to Grandma. Tell her I have something very important to tell her, something really important!" Bai Tao looked around, her heart pounding in her throat. "But we can't let anyone else know. Grandma is a good person, and my words are very important to her."

As she spoke, she became increasingly anxious, "You...you must tell Grandma that I have to go back, otherwise Auntie will question me."

Bai Tao hurriedly went back inside. Before entering the house, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and waited until her breathing was even before carrying the medicine bowl in. "Auntie, it's time to take your medicine."

"Where did you go?" Hua Die had been looking for Bai Tao for half an hour, but couldn't find her. "I asked several people, and they all said they hadn't seen you."

She's now extremely sensitive to everything, and she keeps thinking about her great-aunt's words, "Remove the mother and keep the child."

"When I was preparing your medicine, I ran into Granny Wang, who took me to see the princess."

Upon hearing the words "princess," Hua Die felt extremely uneasy and hurriedly asked what was wrong.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to ask about your well-being. Please don't worry, the Marquis promised you that he wouldn't let the Princess raise your child." Bai Tao handed over the medicine.

Hua Die took a sip; it was bitter and hard to swallow, but for the sake of her child, she gritted her teeth and finished it. "I'm always uneasy. I'm afraid the princess has other methods. Bai Tao, did the princess really not say anything? She wasn't angry?"

She had served the princess before and knew that the princess was not good-tempered. The thought of having to pay her respects to the princess made her skin crawl.

"To be honest, I'm a little unhappy. After all, you asked the princess for her opinion before, and now you've changed your mind. How can the princess be happy?" Bai Tao thought for a moment. She hadn't received a reply from the eldest mistress yet, and she couldn't afford to offend Princess Rongjia as well. Otherwise, she would be going to meet the King of Hell before her mistress even gave birth. "Besides, it was my aunt who said to let the mother go and keep the child, not the princess. So please don't worry."

Hua Die began to take deep breaths, several times in a row. In her heart, it felt like a thorn was stuck in her chest, and she always felt that things would not end so simply.

On the other side, Cui Lingrong was somewhat surprised to learn that Bai Tao wanted to see her.

"She didn't say what it was about, just that it was very important," Caixia said.

"Then let's set a time and see what she's up to." Cui Lingrong asked Caixia to contact Bai Tao.

The next day at noon, Caixia led Baitao through the back door into Qiushuangzhai.

Bai Tao knelt down as soon as she saw the First Madam, pleading, "Please, First Madam, save me! I'm willing to give my life for you!"

"Save you?" Cui Lingrong said deliberately. "You serve Huadie; if there's anything, you should go to the princess. You've come to me, surely Princess Rongjia isn't trying to harm you?"

"It's because the princess wants to harm me. The princess wants to get rid of the mother and keep the child. I'm someone who serves the concubine, so the princess also wants to kill me to silence me." Bai Tao spoke earnestly. "Everyone in the manor says that the eldest mistress is kind-hearted. If there's anything, they can beg the eldest mistress to help me. I will do anything for you!"

Upon hearing this, Cui Lingrong carefully examined Bai Tao.

This Bai Tao is much smarter than Hua Die; she actually managed to figure out what Princess Rongjia was thinking.

Regardless of how Bai Tao found out, it shows that Bai Tao has some tricks up her sleeve and some cunning.

But as far as he knew, Bai Tao frequented Wutong Garden and had many private dealings with Wang Hechun's family. He suspected that she had already sold Hua Die, but she accidentally learned that Princess Rongjia did not intend to let her go, so she came to beg him.

After sorting through her thoughts, Cui Lingrong asked, "Bai Tao, do you have any evidence that the princess is going to abandon the mother and keep the child, which is such a heinous crime?"

"I...I don't have any."

"How did you know?"

"I overheard it! I overheard the princess talking to Chen Mama!"

"But you're just someone who serves Huadie. How could the princess possibly let you know such private matters?" Cui Lingrong smiled. "Bai Tao, if you want me to help you, you have to convince me that Princess Rongjia has this intention. Otherwise, if I act for no reason and end up being controlled by Princess Rongjia, wouldn't I be losing out?"

Hearing that her grandmother was willing to help, Bai Tao's mind raced, but she couldn't think of any evidence.

Seeing Bai Tao's face growing paler, Cui Lingrong said again, "How about this, next time you meet with Wang Hechun's family, I'll have Caixia listen in. Hearing is believing, and if it's confirmed that the princess has this intention, I'll help you."

"Yes, I will definitely prove that what I said is true." Bai Tao emphasized again, "Madam, please believe me. If the princess's plan succeeds and she gets a legitimate son, the future of Xuan-ge and Jin-ge will also be affected."

"Okay, I understand." Cui Lingrong waved her hand, indicating that Bai Tao could go back.

After Bai Tao left, Qiu's mother whispered, "This Bai Tao is quite cunning. She can be used, but not relied upon too heavily."

"I know that in her heart, her own survival is the most important thing, and she is willing to betray anyone for this at any time." Cui Lingrong had already thought about this.

"Then why don't you consider taking this opportunity to prevent Huadie's child from being born?" Qiu's mother asked.

Cui Lingrong felt it was inappropriate. "Aunt Qiu, I can't gamble now. Even if I do nothing, there will be a huge accusation against me. I'm afraid that no matter how perfectly I do it, they will still find some clues. The Marquis and the Old Madam are both biased towards Princess Rongjia. If I give Princess Rongjia something to use against me, I'm afraid I will get a letter of divorce and ruin the reputation of my three children."

It wasn't that Cui Lingrong was soft-hearted; it was simply that she had too many worries about the future.

No matter what means are used, trying to cause a child to miscarry from Huadie's womb will surely cause chaos in the Marquis's mansion.

She manages the Marquis's residence, and it's highly unlikely that anyone will find fault with her, but what if they do?

Cui Lingrong was afraid that something might happen.

If she's going to do something, she has to make sure everything is perfect.

Autumn's mother sighed. Her master had it too hard.

"Once Bai Tao has made an appointment with Wang Hechun's family, go find Hua Die and let her hear it with her own ears. She's still clinging to hope, isn't she? Let her know that she's not only being targeted by Princess Rongjia, but also betrayed by those around her." Cui Lingrong already had a plan. "As for whether she can protect her own child, that depends on whether she knows what's good for her and whether she's really that stupid."

Madam Qiu said this was a good idea, "Letting Aunt Huadie know the truth will confirm Princess Rongjia's thoughts, and she and Princess Rongjia will definitely no longer be on the same boat."

Cui Lingrong said, "It would be best to take this opportunity to create further estrangement between the Marquis and Princess Rongjia."

Autumn's mother immediately made the arrangements.

Two days later, Bai Tao found an opportunity.

While Bai Tao was visiting Wang Hechun's family, Qiu's mother was also visiting Hua Die.

Hua Die looked at Qiu Mama with a puzzled expression. "Qiu Mama, what brings you here?"

"This old servant has come to invite you, Auntie, to see a play—a play that could determine your life or death." Madam Qiu gestured for you to go, and Hua Die's heart skipped a beat.

"What...is it?"

"You'll know when you get there, please," said Madam Qiu. "Didn't you want to know if Princess Rongjia really wanted to leave her child behind?"

Upon hearing the words "leave the mother and keep the child," Huadie's heart pounded wildly. Despite her fear, she went with Qiu's mother.